Sportium digital director Mikel López de Torre has taken over as the new president of Spanish operator association Jdigital.

López de Torre has served as vice president of the association since May 2016, and succeeds Sacha Michaud who has stepped down after six years in the role.

Announcing his departure, Michaud said: "For professional reasons, I haven't been able to dedicate the time and effort Jdigital requires. So I decided it was time for someone with fresh new ideas took over the reins and led the association to the next level of growth.

"I've known Mikel for years and I trust he will be the best president for Jdigital."

López de Torre has been in the gaming industry for 12 years, having served in a number of roles with Betfair including head of API, head of exchange marketing and country manager for Spain. For the past three years, he has served as director of digital for Sportium, the joint venture between Ladbrokes and Cirsa.

"The biggest challenge will be to maintain and strengthen the existing relationships Jdigital has built throughout the years with the Spanish regulator, operators and trusted partners," said López de Torre. "We will continue to advocate for the industry and be the voice of all of our members.

"Over the next five years, the industry will see further consolidation, something that entails greater responsibility. As a mature industry, we must be aware of the impact we have on society. If we want to continue to build a healthy and transparent industry, we must work toward ensuring monitoring and accountability."

"As we carry out initiatives to preserve responsible gambling, we also believe liberal regulation will be key to promoting innovation. We need to be able to offer players the games they demand, in a safe and regulated environment," he added.